Letter Of Testamentary Washington State

The most common reason you will need to open a probate is when a bank or other financial institution tells you that the only way you can gain access to your loved one's funds is by providing them a document called "Letters Testamentary." The only way you can get this document is by beginning a probate and getting

A common question asked of estate planning attorneys is how to obtain a copy of a deceased person's last will and testament or other probate court records. Because probate files are public court records that anyone can read, if a will has been filed for probate then you should be able to obtain a copy of it.

Children (or grandchildren if children have died) Parents. Siblings (or nieces and nephews over 18 if siblings have died) Half-siblings (or nieces and nephews over 18 if half-siblings have died) Grandparents. Aunts or uncles.

To obtain a letter of testamentary, you'll likely visit a probate court or city hall. The probate officer generally expects you to bring the decedent's death certificate, as well as his or her last will and testament.

Find the local probate court or surrogate's court, as it's sometimes called. File the will and a certified copy of the testator's death certificate . Fill out the necessary paperwork , like a petition form, and provide any additional documents.

Subject to the provisions of this article, a person in the following relation to the decedent is entitled to appointment as administrator in the following order of priority: (a) Surviving spouse or domestic partner as defined in Section 37. (b) Children. (c) Grandchildren.

There are two components of letter of testamentary cost: the court fee and the attorney's fees. The court fee ranges from $45 to $1,250, depending on the gross value of the estate. The attorney's fees start at about $2,500 and can go up depending on the complexity of the case.